College of the Desert’s Dr. Annebelle Nery was named the 2021 Administrator of the Year by the California Association for Postsecondary Education and Disability.
Nery is being recognized by the CAPED for her work in ensuring equal learning opportunities for people with disabilities, according to a press release sent by the college on Wednesday.
Each year, the CAPED seeks out administrators who recognize the responsibility colleges have in the education of everyone and who ensure that responsibility is met for students in need of disability services.
“Dr. Nery has long been a champion for students with disabilities,” said Leslie Quiones, director of the college’s Disabled Students Programs and Services. “My department is extremely grateful that Dr. Nery’s leadership has prioritized equity for students with disabilities. She embodies the college’s values of diversity and inclusion and respect.”
Nery’s work in advocating for all instructional materials to be accessible in alignment with Universal Design for Learning, a framework for teaching and learning for all, was particularly highlighted by college officials in the press release.
Nery was a first-generation college student who has worked in higher education for nearly 25 years, 14 of those at College of the Desert. She earned her Ph.D. in sociology with an emphasis in statistics and organization and race, class and gender studies at the University of California, Riverside.